The Earthquake hit Northern Japan near the city of Sendai at six-twenty-four in the evening, disrupting transportation, snarling communications and rocking buildings as far away as Tokyo, 302 kilometers to the south. National broadcaster NHK said the quake measured seven on the open-ended Richter scale.

Television showed pictures of at least two buildings on fire in central Sendai and fire trucks on the scene. In Tokyo, buildings swayed strongly and lamps shook from side to side, sending workers scurrying to the doors. In supermarkets in the capital, products were shaken from shelves, although activity in the streets was normal.